Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Sunday - July 13, 2008
From: Portland, TN
Region: Southeast
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Mystery plant in hay fields in Tennessee
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I found plants growing in my hay fields that are about 4 feet tall, large leaves and blooms (ball shaped) bell flowers.That is, the blooms looks like a pom pom with about 50 to 80 small flowers "hanging" from small stems on each ball . The flowers are perfectly shaped lavender color with small round middles. Very fragrant. Can email a pic if needed. Very interested in knowing if this is some type of weed or old plant. I live on a plantation farm from the 1800s, so I never know what might pop up once the ground is tilled or moved some.ANSWER:
That sounds like a really interesting plant. About the best way we can hope to identify a plant is to have a picture. Go to the Mr. Smarty Plants page, and on the lower right end area under "Plant Identification" you will find instructions for sending us a digital picture. We will then do our best to figure out what it is.
More Plant Identification Questions
Plant identification, possibly Phytolacca americana (American pokeweed)
August 20, 2010 - I have a patch of plants I can't find what they are, could you help? The plant is a tuber (resembles a carrot when it is small), the stalk is red and fibrous, comes back each year bigger, has green ...
view the full question and answer
Identification of a plant similar to wild lettuc
March 24, 2008 - I have a plant that was growing by my swimming pool last summer. Its some sort of wild lettuce, but i have been unable to identify it with the resources i have.
view the full question and answer
Plant identification request from Wales, United Kingdom
November 17, 2011 - I have a plant that has green and pink leaves and the flowers are dry but are like fingers on a hand. The leaves drop down when it needs watering, which is every other day, and the finger shaped clust...
view the full question and answer
Winterberry holly not fruiting
October 22, 2009 - Regarding Ilex verticillata, which I have planted in a partial sun, somewhere between all dry and all wet location, i don't see any red berries, and it's mid-october. We are in the 'burbs of just ...
view the full question and answer
How common is white blooming Mountain Laurel
April 01, 2003 - Is white blooming Mountain Laurel common?
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |